Rotary switch electrical timed sorter



July 29, 1924.

W. W. LASKER ROTARY SWITCH ELECTRICAL TIMED SORTER Filed Dec. 19. 1919 2Sheets-Sheet 1 vJuly 29, w24. 1502.993

w. w. LASKER ROTARY SWITCH .ELECTRICAL TIMED SORTER Filed Dec. 19, 19192 Sheets-Sheet 2 qui O Y 56 02 l 101 l5@ 50 /38 v 158W 43 56 a 14% 14735 141 61 46 al O v 162 o l 140 32 130 \f fang? s T5: 164 j 167 Ma 152@www www@

Patented July 29, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM W. LASKER, 0F BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, SASIGNOE, BY MESNE ASSIGN-MENTS, TO-POWZERS ACCOUNTING MACHINE CORPORATION, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.,

A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

ROTARY SWITCH ELECTRICAL TIMED SORTER.

Application led December 19, 1919. Serial No. 346,121.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM lV. LASKER, a citizen of the United States,residing in Brooklyn in the county of Kings and State of New York, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Rotary Switch ElectricalTimed Sorters, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to analyzers for machines for sorting perforatedcards of the kind used in automatic accounting and calculating machines,in which cards are passed from thc card analyzer and deflected into theappropriate compartments by defiectors whichv are not operated until thecard reaches the dei-lector.

The invention relates more particularly to an analyzer suitable for thesorting 1nachine described in my U. S. application Serial No. 303,155,tiled June 10. 1919, for sorting machines.

One object of the invention is to provide an eiiicient electric meansassociated with each compartment to the exclusion of the others forcontrollingr each deflector by the card in the analyzer destined to bedeflected by such deector into the associated compartment. l

A articular object of the invention is to provide an analyzer, having noreciprocatory parts, for use with my above mentioned machine, or forgeneral application. Other objects will appear as the descriptionproceeds; and while herein I describe minute details of the invention.the invention is not limited to these, since the features ofconstruction and combination may be greatly varied without departingfrom the scope o the invention as claimed.

In the accompanying drawing by way of example, one of many possibleembodiments of the inventionl Figure 1 is a side elevation of thesorting machine with the analyzer attached thereto;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmental perspective view 4showing the analyzerand the timing arrangement;

Fig. 3 is an end view partly in section of an analyzer-contact member;and

Fig. 4 is a central longitudinal sectional view taken through anothercontact member.

As shown in ig. 1, the machine comprises a base 10 on which are mounteda paill of side plates 11 on which are mounted the card feeding means12, the analyzer 14 and other parts of the mechanism to be mentioned.The card feeding means 12 of the analyzer 14 are Similar in constructionto that described in the U. S. patent to James Powers, No. 1,282,626issued October 22, 1918. The U. S. patent to W. W. Lasker, No.1,298,971, issued A ril 1, 1919; hence they need not now be s own o1"described in all their details.

The upper part of the feeding means comprises a magazine hopper 18adapted to receive a pack of cards tobe sorted; and at the lower part ofthe feeding means there is provided a reciprocating 'block 19 guided inthe lower part of the feeding means and connected by means of a. link 20to a lever arm 21 mounted on the shaft 24 carried between the side lates11, and connected to the link 26 having its end 27 eccentrically mountedon the eccentric 28 carried on the eccentric shaft 29 suitably driven,as will be hereinafter described, from the motor 30, whereby the block19 is reciprocated in the lower part of the magazine 18. The block 19 isprovided with a picker knife 34 whereby when the block is reciprocatedthe lowermost card in the magazine is fed forward through a micrometerslot 35 at the outlet side of the feeding means.

From the micrometer slot 35 the card is received between the roller 36and a roller mounted on a sha-ft 38 suitably driven by f the sprocket 40and chain 41 or the like from the drive wheel 44 of the motor 30. Fromthe sha-ft 38 suitable gears 45, 46 and 47 convey power to theeccentricshaft plate 5() is disposed between the upperv edges of saidside plates 11 and provided with a switch receiving opening 51. Thesuperposed feed rolls 36 mounted at the rear of said plate 5() receivecards from the Vis disposed in said shaft bearings 49 of the side plates11 and has a projecting end 55 at one side of the machine and carries aninsulating sleeve 56 on the shaft between said plates. A plurality ofContact bars 57 are longitudinally disposed on said sleeve 56 embeddedin the surface thereof and spaced distances apart equal to the distancebetween index points 58 on the card 59.

A bracket piece 60 (Fig. 1) disposed against the inner face of each ofsaid side lates 11 has its forward end receiving said hollow shaft isprovided with a rearward- 1y projecting extension 51. A fulcrurn lever63 having a. bearing bore at its forward end is fulcrumed at its rearpart to said bracket piece 60 and is provided with a rear extension 64spaced below said first named extension 61. A pressure shaft 65 isdisposed in said bearing bores of the lever 63 parallel to and abovesaid hollow switch shaft 54 (Fig. 2) and is provided with `a spline 66fixed longitudinally thereof o'n which is adjustably slidable a contactroll 67 provided with radial bores 68 (Fig. 3), one for each index pointlocation of the card. A ring 69 around said contact roll is providedwith perforations smaller than said radial bores 68 and registeringtherewith, thereby to form annular shoulders at the outer end of theradial bores respectively. Analyzing contact pins 70 in said bores havecontact heads 71 slidable in said registering perforations; and a collar72 is provided on each pin against said head and shoulder. A spring 73on the pin and com` pressed between said collar and the inner end ofAthe radial bore is adapted to press the contact head against the indexpoint locations ofthe card and if a perforation be present in the cardto press the head against the corresponding contact bar 57. A springr 74(Fig. 1) is compressed between said extensions 61 and 64 for pressingthe Contact roll 467 against the card thereby to press the card againstsaid bars 57.

Radial stop pins 76 (Fig. 2) mounted on said shafts at each edge portionof said analyzer plate are each adapted to engage the advance edge ofthe card approaching the contact roll and the switch sleeve thereby toso position said card relative to the contact bars 57 and the pin heads71 that each contact bar and pin head will be disposed against thecorresponding index point location of the card as the card is forcedbetween the rollers to frictionally engage and rotate the rolls.

An insulating bushing 77 (Fig. 4) is provided on the projecting end 55of the sw1tch shaft and carries a plurality of contact rings 78, one foreach contact bar. Separately insulated conductors 79 passing throughsaid hollow shaft 54 connect each contact ring 78 with its correspondingrespective contact bar 57. A brush support 80 is mounted on one of theside plates 11; and a lurality of spring vcontact brushes 81 ig. 2) aremounted on said support and each contacts one only of said rings 78. Thebrushes are each connected to the insulated electric wires 89 foroperating the selecting mechanism of the card Yconveyor as will beexplained;

It is, of course, necessary that the pin heads 71 always be adjusted sothat the pins register with the row of perforations which are to beanalyzed. This can be done merel by sliding the roll 67 on the pressuresha t until the heads register with the desired column.

The cards are received from the roller 52 (Fig. 1) and are finallyconveyed to the cornpartments 92 formed by transverse partitions 93mounted at their lower ends upon the base 10 and having their upper endssecured to retaining pieces 95 carried upon the bearing supports 96mounted upon the lower edges of the extension plates 98 secured to theside plates 11. Rotatably mounted in said bearing supports 96 are aplurality of delector shafts 99, one for each compartment, on which aresecured deflectors- 100 (Fig. 2) formed of strips of material bent uponthemselves and secured by vmeans of rivets 101 to the delector shaft.

Upon each delector shaft 99 there are rotatably mounted a pair of lowerguide rollers 102 against which are yieldably pressed the upper guiderollers 104 rotatably mounted in brackets 106 (Fig. l) loosely mountedon pivot bolts 108 secured to the extension plates 98.

On each upper shaft 105 thereis fixed a pinion 112 meshing with an idler113 rotatably mounted on one of the bolts 108.

The end bracket 114 is loosely mounted on a short bearing shaft 115 onwhich is fixed a drive pinion 116 and a driven sprocket 117, the latterbeing driven by means of a sprocket chain 118, on the sprocket wheel 120carried on the shaft 53 operatively connected to a gear wheel 122 drivenby the gear 123 in turn driven from the. gear 47. On the shafts 53 and124 are mounted rollers 53 and a lower roller which receive the cards'from the analyzer 14 and convey them to the rollers 102 and 104 whichlatter convey the cards in a horizontal path above the deflectors 100,when the deflectors are in their normal horizontal osition as shown inFig. 2. When the de ectors 100 are deflected upwardly so that a cardpassing from the analyzing plate passes to the underside of thedeiiector, such card is deiected into one of the compartments 92 on tothe receiving plate 127.

Means for operating the deflector will now be described. v

Mounted upon onev of the side plates 11 (Fig. 3) is a bracket support130 upon which are mounted elbow brackets 131 provided with timing shaftbearings 132 and delector shaft bearings 134, the latter receiving theends of the deector shafts 99. In the bearings 132 there is disposed atiming shaft 135 on Which are fixed, one for each com artment, aplurality of timing disks 136. isposed around each timing disk equalangles apart, are a plurality of tripping supports or pivots 137 onwhich are pivotallj7 mounted settable tripping cams 138 provided attheir inner edges with a cam projection 140. Said cams are held spacedfrom the disk by means of spacing collars 141. At the free end of eachsettable cam there is secured a pivot pin 143 on which is pivotallymounted a detent 144 provided with an upwardly pointing releasing iinger145 and an inwardly pointing detent finger 146 provided with an activedetent shoulder 147 and an inactive detent shoulder 148 either one ofwhich is adapted to rest upon the detent pin 150 mounted upon the disk.Said finger 144 is held pressed against the detent pin 'by means of acoil spring 152 wrapped around the collar 141 and pressing against aprojection 153 carried upon the detent 144.

Upon each pivot pin 143 there is also carried a tripping roller 155,adapted, when the active shoulder 147 engages the detent pin, to engagethe operating arm 156 fixed upon the deflector shaft 99, whereby as saiddisk rotates and brings said roller into contact with said arm 156, thedeflectors 100 are raised and deflect the cards into the compartments.After the operating arm 156 has been thus operated, the releasing finger145 engages the releasin pin 158 carried upon the outer end of t eoperating arm 156, whereby said active shoulder 147 is forced away fromthe detent pin 150 and the spring 152 causes the tripping cam and detentto move inwardly until the detent 'pin 150 is engaged by the inactiveshoulder 148. The deflector operating means as thus far described isshown in said first named ap lication.

ach timing shaft bearing boX 132 is provided with a reduced extension onwhich is fixed by means of a set screw 161, a plunger bracket 162provided with an opening in which is received a thimble 164 o-n which ismounted a solenoid 168 having therein a slidable armature core 169provided with means, as shown in my said patent for holding the coreretracted. One end of the solenoid wire connected to the insulatedelectric wire 89. The other 'end of the solenoid wire is connected bythe conductor 176 to one terminal of a suitable source 'of current 177,the other terminal thereof bein by means of the conductor 178, groundeon the frame of the machine. There is one solenoid 168 electricallyconnected by the wires 89 to each brush 81. As the pins and the pressureshaft 65 are grounded on the frame of the machine, it will be seen thatwhenever a pin head is depressed through a perforation to 'contact witha bar 57, a circuit is formed comprising said pin 70, the bar 56, theconductor 7 9 the ring 7 8. the brush 57 the solenoid 168, the conductor17 6, the source of current 177, the conductor 17 8, and the frame ofthe machine. When the circuit is thus formed by the contact of a pin 7 0the corresponding solenoid is energized and the corresponding trippingor plunger core 169 is projected.

The timing shaft 135 is rotated by means of bevel gears 180 (Fig, 1)4driven from the gear 123; and these gears are so proportioned that eachtime a card is analyzed in the analyzer, one of the tripping cams 138`is just coming into operative relation with one of the plungers 171.

When a card is in the analyzer and the analyzing pin 70 finds a.perforation and presses upon the bar 57 `the solenoid pro-4 jects thetripping plunger 169, whereupon, the tripping plunger engages thetripping cam 138 at that time coming into operative relation therewith.

As the various compartments 92 are placed progressively greaterdistances from the analyzer, it requires a greater length of time forthe card passing from the analyzer to reach the compartments more remotetherefrom; and provision is made for operating the deliector just at theinstant that the card reaches it sothat each card may be defiected intoits appropriate compartment without having to wait until sufficient timehas elapsed for a card to be deflected into the most remote compartment.In order to accomplish this it is merely necessary to place the plunger169 associated with each compartmenftI and timing disk such a distancefrom the associated operating arm 156 that the tripping cam which comesinto operative relation with such plunger at the time that the card isin the analyzer will havejust time to pass from such tripping plunger tosaid operating arm as the card which operated such plunger 169 requiresto pass from the analyzer to the deflector. In order to fulfill theseconditions the plungers 171 must be placed spirally around the timingshaft, the plungers associated with the most remote compartments beingplaced the greatest distances from the operating arm 156, such distancesbeing measured forward from the plunger in direction of rotation of thedisks indicated by the arrow at the rightI of Fig. 2. As the embodimentherein described is provided with 12 compartments, and the timing disksare provided with only six tripping cams, it is necessary that thetrippingl cams of one disk be placed in staggered relation with thetripping cams of the adJacent disk so that the tripping cam on everydisk will be coming into operative relation with the associated trippingplunger just at the instant that the card is being analyzed. Otherwisesome of the tripping plungers would be operated at an instant when thepoint of the disk midwa between adjacent cams would be opposite t 1eplunger, and no settingv of the tripping cam would take place. Thenumber of tripping cams could be either greater or less than shown, ifdesired.

From the foregoing the operationof the entire machine will be readilyunderstood and need n'ow be only very briefiy summarized as follows: l

By means of the reciprocatin picker blades 34, each card is'fed from tielower part of the magazine hopper 18 to the roller 38 whence it iscarried above the analyzer,

and against the radial pins 7 6,thereby positioning the card relative tothe rollers, so that each contact bar 57 will be Adisposed under itscorresponding number on the card.

The card is then forced by its feed rollers' until a pin find aperforation and the associated tripping plunger 169 associated with thecompartment to which said card is destined, is operated, therebybringing about the setting of the tripping cam 140 associated with saidcompartment just as it comes into operative relation with such trippingplunger. When this takes place the card which caused its sett-ing isseized by the roller 52 and this card and the tripping cam set therebyboth travel toward the deliectors 100 and the operating arm 156associated with suchcompartment; and because of the relation between thelocation of the setting plunger, the remotcness of the compartment fromthe analyzer, and the speeds of travel of the set tripping cam and thecard, said tripping cam comes into operative relation with rtheoperating lever 156 just before the card comes into operative relationwith the deflectors 100, whereupon the set tripping cam operates theoperating lever and consequently the associated deilec-to-rs anddeflects the card into the appropriate compartment. The operating camimmediately passes on and permits the deflectors to fall,` so that acard immediately following the card thus deflected may pass over saiddeflectors for a more remote compartment. 1f such card was destined forthe same compartment, the deliectors will be immediately deflected againin the same manner just described.

As soon as the operating arm 156 has been operated, the trippingfinger-.145 engages the tripping pin 158 thus releasing the shoulder 147from the detent pin 150 whereupon the an electrically operated meanselectrically connected with the Contact mem'ber corresponding to theperforation of the card destined for such compartment, for causing thecards to enter the stations.

2. In combination, a rotary analyzing member comprising an insulatingmember and contact bars thereon spaced equal distances apart; a pressuremember adapted to press against and contact said bars; card compartmentspast which cards are conveyed from between said members; a defiector foreach compartment; an electrically operated means for each deflector andelectrically connected with the bar corresponding to the perforation ofthe card destined for suc-h compartment.

3. In combination, a rotary analyzing roll comprising an insulatingsleeve and longitudinal contact bars spaced equal distances apartthereon; a pressure roll axially parallel to said analyzing roll:outwardly pressed radial analyzer disposed around said analyzer roll andadapted to contact said bars respectively; feed means for forcing cardsbetween said rolls; discharge means for eX- tracting cards thus forced;insulated contact rings connected with the contact bars re! spectively;card con'ipartments past which cards are conveyed from the dischargemeans; a deflector for each compartment for deflecting the cardstherein; and an electrically operated means for each defiector andelectrically connected with the ring corresponding to the perforation ofthe card destined for such compartment.

4. In combination, a switch shaft; an analyzing roll on said shaft andcomprising an insulating sleeve and longitudinal contact bars spaceddistances apart equal to the distance between index points on the cardto be analyzed; a pressure shaft paraL lel to and above said switchshaft; a pressure roll longitudinally adjustable on said pressure shaftand provided with radial bores therein, one for each index point;outwardly spring pressed analyzer pins in said bores; feed means forforcing cards between said rolls; discharge means for ex tracting cardsthus forced; insulated contact partments past which cards are conveyed,

from the dischargeV means; a deliector for each compartment; and anelectrically operated means for each deflector and electricallyconnected with the brush corresponding to the perforation of the carddestined for such compartment.

5. In combination, a hollow switch shaft;

-an analyzing roll on said shaft and comprising an insulating sleeve andlongitudinal contact bars spaced distances apart equal to the distancebetween index points on the card to be analyzed; a pressure shaftparallel to and above said switch shaft; a pressure roll longitudinallyadjustable on said pressure shaft and provided with radial borestherein, one for each index point.; outwardly spring pressed analyzerpins' in said bores; feed means for forcing cards between said rolls;discharge means for extracting cards thus forced; insulated contactrings on said switch shaft; conductors passing through said hollow shaftand connect-ing the rings to the contact bar respectively; brushescontacting said rings respectively; card compartmentsv past which cardsare conveyed from the discharge means; a deflector for each compartment;an electrically operated means for each deflector and electricallyconnected with the brush corresponding to the perforation of the carddestined for such compartment.

6. In combination, a hollow switch shaft having a projecting end; ananalyzing roll on said shaft and comprising an insulating sleeve on themid-part of said shaft; and a plurality of contact bars longitudinallydisposed on said sleeve thereof and spaced distances apart equal to thedistance between index points on the card to be analyzed; a pressureshaft disposed parallel to and above said switch shaft; a pressure rolllongitudinally adjustable on said pressure shaft and provided withradial bores therein; outwardly spring pressed analyzer pins in saidbores; feed rollers for forcing cards between said pressure andanalyzing rolls; discharge rollers for seizing cards forced by the feedrollers as they emerge from the analyzer roll; an insulating 'bushing onthe projecting end of the switch shaft; a plurality of contact rings onsaid bushing; conductors passing through said hollow Shaft andconnecting each ring with its corres onding contact bars; brushescontacting sai rings respectively; and electrically operated meansconnected with the brushes 1 respectively.

to the switch shaft; a pressure member thereon adapted to contact saidcontact members; an electric conductorconnected with the contact membersrespectively; and radial stop 'pins mounted on said shafts and eachadapted to engage the advance 'edge of a card approaching the analyzingand pressure members thereby to position said cardl relative to thecontactmembers.

8. In combination, a switch shaft; a. rotary analyzing member thereoncomprising an insulating member and contact bars thereon spaced equaldistances a rt; a pressure shaft parallel to the switc shaft; a pressuremember thereon adapted to press against the said contact bars; cardcompartments past which cards are conveyed from between said members; adelector for each compartment; an electrically operated means .for eachdeflector and electrically connected with the bar coresponding to theperforation of the card destined for such compartment; and radial stoppins mounted on said shafts and each adapted to engage the advance edgeof a card approaching the analyzing and pressure members thereby to soposition said card relative to the contact bars that each contact barwill be disposed against the corresponding index point location of thecard as the card is forced between the members to frictionally engageand rotate the members.

9. In combination, a rotary analyzing member comprising insulatedcontact bars; spaced equal distances apart; conductors electricallyconnected with the respective contact bars; a pressure shaft providedwith a spline fixed longitudinally thereof; a contact roll adjustablyslidable on said ressure shaft and provided with radial ores therein; aring around said contact roll and provided with perforations smallerthan said radial bores and registering therewith'thereby to form annularshoulders at the outer end of said; radial bores respectively; contactpins in said bores and having contact heads slidable in said registeringperforations; a collar on each pin against said head and shoulder; aspring on the pin and compressed between said collar and the inner endof the radial bore and adapted to press the contact head against thecorresponding contact box.

10. In combination, a rotary analyzing member comprising insulatedcontact devices movable in series in the same path; a member thereonadapted to engage the contact devices through perforations of cards; andconductors electrically connected with the respective contact devices.

11. In combination, a card conveying means; and a movable analyzingmember movable with the card in transit and comprising separateanalyzing devices associating themselves individually with respectiveindividual index points of the cards; sorting stations adapted toreceive the cards from said analyzing member; and a guide meansconnected with the devices for causing the cards to enter the stations.

12. In combination, a conveying means for conveying cards having rows ofindex points so that said ints move in series in the same path; an amovable analyzing member comprising separately insulated anal zi devicesassociating themselves indivi ual y with the respective individual indexpoints; sorting stations adapted to receive the cards from saidanalyzing member;

and a guide means electrically connected with the devices for causingthe cards to enter the stations.

13. In combination, a card conveying means for conveying cards havingrows of index points so that said points of each row move in series inthe same path; a movable analyzing member comprising separate analyzingbars transverse to their path of movement and associating themselvesindividually with the respective individual index points; and operatingmeans connected with the respective bars.

14. In combination, a card conveying means for conveying cards havingrows of index points arranged side by side so that said points of eachseries move in a simple path; a. pair of rotary analyzing membersbetween which the cards are'fed and movable to co-operation with any ofsaid rows, for analyzing a card during transit; sorting stations aaptedto receive the cards from said anaylzing member; and a mechanicallyoperated means electrically connected with the analyzer means forcausing the cards: to enter the stations.

15. In combination, a rotary analyzing member comprising separateinsulated analyzing devices movable in seriesy in said same path; andconduct-ors electrically. connected with the respective devices.

16. In combination, a card conveying means for conveying cards having arow of index points so that said points of said .row move in series inthe same path; a movable analyzing member ycomprising separate analyzingdevices movable in series in said path and associating themselvesindividually with the respective individual index points; y andoperating means connected with the respective contact devices.

series in the same path; and a movable analyzing member' comprisingseparate analyzing devices movable in series in said same path andassociating themselves individually with the respective individual indexpoints; conductors electrically Yconnected with the respective devices;sorting stations adapted to receive the cards from said analyzingmember;and a mechanically operated means electrically connected with theconductor means for causing the cards to enter the stations.

18. In combination, a movable analyzing means adapted to analyze a cardduring transitory movement of the card; sorting stations adapted toreceive cards'from said means; and means individual to each stationelectrically connected with the analyzing means for causing cards toenter the appropriate stations.

19. In combination, a` rotary analyzing means adapted to analyze a cardduring transitory movement of the cards; sortin stations adapted toreceive cards from said means; guide means for causing cards to enterthe stations; and means individual to each guide means for operativelyconnecting the guide means to the analyzer.

20. In combination, a number of compartments for receiving cards used incalculating machines; means associated with each compartment to causethe appropriate card to enter the compartment when the card reaches itand which means require a period of time to elapse after being put intooperation and when it is to receive the card; an electromagnetic devicefor starting the operation of said means; an analyzer for controllingthe operation of each of said electromagnetic means; a series of cardseach having an index point to cause the analyzer to energize theelectro-magnetic device of its appropriate compartment; and means forfeeding the cards to the compartments from the analyzer.

WILLIAM W. LASKER. Witnesses:

JOHN MORRIS, H. D. PENNEY.

